NEW DELHI/PATIALA: Even as Haryana and Chandigarh have announced ban on the sale and use of firecrackers amid rising air pollution and a surge in the Covid-19 cases, the Punjab government has told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that there is no need for such ban in the state.
The state government, however, clarified that it has already notified the time restrictions on bursting of firecrackers during Diwali, Gurpurab, Christmas and New Year by issuing a public notice in various newspapers through the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).
It claimed the Continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) have been set up in the nonattainment cities of Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mandi Gobindgarh, Patiala, Jalandhar and Khanna and the air quality index (AQI) remained in the range of ‘good’ in August, ‘satisfactory’ in September and ‘moderate’ in October.
“In view of the above stated facts and after due consideration of the matter in the background of Covid-19 pandemic, it is respectfully apprised that ban on the use of firecrackers is not required in the state of Punjab,” it said.
Meanwhile, the PPCB officials said restrictions have been imposed on the bursting of firecrackers on the Diwali day and the people in the state would be able to burst crackers only between 8pm and 10pm.
PPCB member-secretary Karunesh Garg said, “We have not imposed any ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in the state during the upcoming festivals, but the timings for bursting, crackers have been limited in the state and it will be implemented in letter and spirit.”
Of late, the air quality in Punjab is fluctuating between ‘moderate’ and ‘poor’ categories, with Amritsar and Jalandhar performing worst on the air quality index (AQI).